The Zambian government has suspended a 15 percent export duty on precious gemstones effective January 1, 2020. 

“The export duty payable on precious stones is suspended to free,” the Zambian government said in a recent Customs and Excise Order.

Coloured gemstone export Gemfields, which owns 75 percent of the Kagem emerald mine in Zambia, shared the announcement in its website.

According to Zambia, exports of the following will be tariff-free starting next year: Precious stones (other than diamonds) and semi-precious stones, whether or not worked or graded but not strung, mounted or set; ungraded precious stones (other than diamonds) and semi-precious stones, temporarily strung for convenience of transport.